The New Hotbed of Pitchers? Guess Where These Top Arms are Coming From!

Imagine you’re watching the Women’s College World Series coming up in a matter of days and you’re gabbing with some friends between innings.

Here’s a fun topic that you can introduce and make yourself look really smart.

“We all know that Calif., Texas and Florida are hotbeds for producing talent,” you begin. “But do you know what area has really become a hotbed for producing pitchers these days?”

Dramatic pause encouraged as your collected group stops to reflect and, assuming no one in your softball circle has read this article, you can then become the life of the party (yet again,)when you answer:

“The Kansas City region.”

That’s right… Kansas City, which–if you draw a circle around the region and include the states within a few hours drive; meaning Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska–you’ll find the stomping grounds of some pretty accomplished arms these days at all levels of collegiate ball.

From DI to NAIA, there’s an array of outstanding pitchers who call this middle part of the nation home and, as the chart below attests, the numbers don’t lie.

So, why the Heartland of American for producing such talented arms?

“I believe it’s because of the development by their pitching coaches and travel ball coaches,” says Robb Behymer, who’s seen more than his fair share of impressive pitchers as the head of Top Gun Events.

“The coaches have been key in propelling this pitching phenomenon,” Robb continues and–to give credit, where credit’s due–Mr. Behymer is the one who pulled all these stats together, “but it’s crazy to see what these kids are doing. I’ve followed them through Top Gun, of course, and with their travel ball organizations around here and their accomplishments and stats are just insane!”

By “these kids,” the event director is referring to 16 top arms he’s ID’d from the Kansas City region who are lighting it up this year when it comes to stats, numbers and success in the circle.

Robb selected a “Sweet 16” of accomplished college pitchers and, as an ensemble, they have a jaw dropping 269 wins versus just 50 losses for a win percentage of 84 percent.

In all of their games this year, this group has 2,013 strikeouts recorded in 2,085 innings or just a hair shy of one per inning. Also impressive: this Sweet 16 has a collective ERA of just 1.75.

So, for you college coaches out there who are looking to add to your pitching staff… you might want to plan a few days this Summer scouting travel ball teams and their pitchers from the land of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Skilled instructors and coaches, perhaps, or maybe it’s just something in the water in KC these days, but the numbers show that the odds are high of finding an ace to enhance your staff from the “Breadbasket of America!”

— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball

*****

Sweet 16 College Pitchers – Their Stats (as of Friday, May 12, 2023) & Where They’re From 

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